Although the colder months are a great time to curl up with a big thick novel, they are
also the time when I find myself most often in a reading slump. The darkness, tiredness and busyness can all make it difficult to keep up with the pace of a book, even if you're really enjoying it. Sometimes I find myself looking for something a bit less heavy-going,
with a page-turning plot, relatable protagonists and an uplifting vibe. Here are my top six recommendations for when you find yourself in that situation!
Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan
I came across this book as a recommendation in the back of another YA queer rom-com, and admittedly I may have bought 'Straight Expectations' based on the cover alone! The pink and rainbow aesthetic completely drew me in; I probably wouldn't have tried it if not for this, as I initially felt unsure about the premise.
Seventeen year-old Max is out and proud, but finds his world has been turned upside down after wishing for the 'easy' life straight teens have. Both Max's feelings for boys and his best friend Dean have vanished- can Max find his way back to his old life and win the heart of the boy he thought he could never have?
I had some apprehensions about the idea of 'waking up straight'; for me, the book had the potential to stray into the 'queerness is a choice' area and potentially diminish the importance of queer identity for LGBTQ+ individuals. On reading the book, however, I was proven completely wrong, and I fell in love with both the narrative and the protagonists. Without giving anything away, the humourous yet profoundly affirming way in which Max reconnects with his queer self even when in 'straight world' was really beautiful and emotional, completely subverting all of the misconceptions about what it means to be queer. Although I can't speak for people affected by these issues, the discussions around topics such as the intersectionality of race and LGBTQ+ identity never felt heavy-handed or like a lecture- instead, they added to the themes of chosen family and the depth of the friendships portrayed in the book. At once laugh-out-loud, heartbreaking and relatably chaotic, this book perfectly captures what it is to find yourself, make mistakes and fall in love in a funny and empathetic manner. It felt like a safe space with a healthy dash of will-they-won't-they to keep the story moving along; it really does have something for everyone!
How to die famous by Benjamin Dean
This is the second of Benjamin Dean's YA novels, but was the first book of his that I read whilst on holiday.
It follows Abel, Hollywood's latest rising star and undercover journalist investigating the industry that caused his brother's death. Behind the camera lie dark secrets and even darker crimes; who, if anyone, can Abel trust?
For me, this book struck the balance between real, believable characters whilst maintaining the pacy tension required in a thriller, a genre which can often rely on stereotypes. I loved that (particularly at the beginning), the reader sees things predominantly through Abel's eyes- it cleverly positions you as an outsider stepping into the false embrace of Hollywood, emphasising the disconcerting feeling of being vulnerable to a danger that you can't prove exists. The narrative explores the toxicity of the film industry, and more broadly how the systems which use and then discard and destroy us are the most sinister enemy of all. The protagonists are humanly messy, and likeable in a sort of love-to-hate-them way until you get to know them more fully. The way their relationships to themselves and with each other blossom is at once devastatingly heart-wrenching and deeply empowering for any young person kept silent by the status quo. They were a joy to spend time with, and the huge twist at the end was one of the best I had recently read- I wanted to start the whole book over knowing what I knew then!
'How to die famous' does exactly as it promises on the back: it is a dark, twisty thriller with a wider political comment on systematic disempowerment that feels strangely comforting to read.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins-Reid
I could probably write a whole separate post talking about how I can't get enough of Taylor Jenkins-Reid's writing (I could recommend any of her books!), but 'Malibu Rising' is my favourite novel of hers that I have read.
Set in the summer of 1983, the plot takes place on the day of Nina Riva's annual party. Everyone wants to be around the Riva siblings, who are the children of world-famous singer Mick Riva. By midnight, the party will spiral out of control, and by daybreak, the mansion will have burnt to the ground. But before this, secrets will be revealed, cracks in relationships will widen, and scandal will prevail.
I don't usually read 'popular' fiction, however I love the way that Jenkins-Reid writes; her judicious choice of words makes the book flow flawlessly for the reader, but on closer inspection, her writing style is so clever in its hidden complexity. In 'Malibu Rising' in particular, the setting completely drew me in, as did the structure, which allows tension to build in a really stunning way. The interludes which follow Mick and June's story in the 1950s added an extra layer of poignancy to the sibling's adult lives. The book is coloured by sadness, but also by this sense of rebirth being just around the corner- everything the siblings need to let go of in order to take charge of their lives and who they are as people is literally and metaphorically burnt to the ground that night. Their lives may not necessarily become easier, but they are much more their own people by the end. I loved spending time with the Rivas- each sibling feels like they could be someone you know. The chaos of the party scenes were written in a way which made me as the reader relax into the guidance of Jenkins-Reid; everything that I needed to know would be revealed, without me having to scramble to keep up with the unruly setting.
'Malibu Rising' will brighten any reader's bookshelf; it has glamour, secrets, hardship and excess- what more could you want?
They both die at the end by Adam Silvera
Ever since reading 'They both die at the end', I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Rufus and Mateo both receive a call from Death Cast: they will die today. The boys are complete strangers, but connect via the Last Friend app, which allows people living their End Day to find someone with whom they can have one last adventure. On meeting, Rufus and Mateo give more meaning to the other's life than either could ever imagine.
This book has haunted me in the most amazing way. The prose isn't lyrical or flowery, yet it manages to make the smallest of details the most poignant thing you have ever read. It made me reflect on what it is to truly live, and changed the way that I look at loss. The narrative clearly asserts that there cannot be sadness without love, and that to live is to find (and hold onto) deep emotional connections with others, so that you can grow to fulfil your full potential as an individual. Rufus and Mateo's paths cross only fleetingly, but the way that they see and understand each other as people is devastatingly beautiful. The chapters capture moments in their lives, from the mundane to the heart-warming, to the gut-wrenchingly sad. I can't recommend this book enough- although the subject matter is far from light, the structure of short chapters makes it a really accessible format. Everyone can gain something from this story; I recommend starting with this one as opposed to the prequel, 'The first to die at the end', which was published a few years later; there are some small but pivotal details carried over from 'They both die at the end' which made 'The first to die at the end' even more meaningful for me.
Marple by various authors
I don't usually like it when another author writes about a famous character they didn't create, but I really loved this short story collection.
Twelve modern crime writers each tell their own version of a Marple mystery, taking her from Manhattan, to university halls, to a classic country manor.
The twelve unique portrayals of Miss Marple made me fall even more in love with her as a protagonist. Each story explores a different facet of Marple's personality and psyche so that across the twelve, the reader can build up a full picture of her as a person. The authors choose to portray their favourite side of Marple, or the aspect of her that they feel will work best for a theme or wider comment in their piece. These multi-dimensional vignettes of Marple were for me a testament to Agatha Christie's genius- Marple cannot be summarised by one word or quality, she exists in a reality of her own where she transgresses concrete description yet is easily imagined by the reader. Here, we see a somewhat secondary character become the writer of her own story as she takes centre stage in a historical era tinted by a modern lens. I think it is worth noting that Miss Marple was and is very much the epitome of a prejudiced and old-fashioned society; the way that some of the writers in this collection try and re-position her as a forward-thinking person to make her palatable to a modern society sometimes feels jarring, as her outdated viewpoints can be felt even more strongly through the attempts to update her.
This collection is the perfect pick if you don't have much time to sit and read for prolonged periods, as the length of the stories keeps up the pace and allows you to experience a diverse range of narratives, perfect if you're not quite sure what you want; it is both a great introduction to Marple for newcomers and a treasure trove of undiscovered mysteries for the Marple expert.
The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
I always try to read the book before I watch any film or TV adaptations of it, but 'The Talented Mr Ripley' was an exception. I became fascinated with the psychologically complex anti-hero of Tom Ripley, who was an unsettling mixture of amoral genius and charming hedonist. The narrative takes on a cat-and-mouse structure, as Tom Ripley becomes obsessively fascinated by the 'good life' Dickie Greenleaf (who Tom has been tasked with bringing home to the US) leads in Italy. There is seemingly nothing Tom wouldn't do to keep hold of his newfound happiness- with blood on his hands and police on his tail, can Tom stay one step ahead?
First published in the 1950s, I loved the way Highsmith's writing evoked the setting, peeling back the layers of glamour to reveal the rot underneath. Although when reading the book you feel this impending sense of doom to come, you get to experience Italy through the eyes of the rich, which feels like a real treat. Ripley isn't the most likable character, but his audacity and primal urge to manipulate, kill and use other people makes for a breathlessly tense read. The way Highsmith writes Ripley's nuanced character is effortless, creating a protagonist we know we should hate but actually end up rooting for.
This book is different from your typical thriller, but it is a page-turning read of peril and perfection which has all the elements of a novel to get you back into reading.
I hope these books provide some inspiration to help you out of your reading slump; whenever you're stuck for what to read, the most important thing is to find something you know you will enjoy, regardless of the genre or length!
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